The Observation Deck

I was driving down Lake today and I wanted to remark that the person that bought the "Lombardo" home is really working hard. It looked like he had a few setbacks, but it is looking very nice now. Kudos to that family.

I also noticed that the Rosewood building is going up quickly and is looking good.

The Sherwin Williams store on Madison is looking great too.

On another front, the building that used to be the Christian Science Building across from the Main Library looks great and the planters look very nice as well.

What have you been noticing? Sometimes we want to fix problems so much we don't take the time to really see the nice positive things that people all around Lakewood are doing to fix up the city.

I don't mean to be the bearer of bad news, but I have noticed what appears so far to be a terribly ugly new rapid station at W117/Madison. Once I relearn a little html, I will start posting pics on my website listed in my signature. DL and others were very nice to try to help me do it on here, but I was not smart enough to figure it out. Yes, I realize the rapid station is not finished yet. I remember a previous design being belittled by former Mayor Cain as resembling a ufo docking station.

What is the homeowner house? The house at Lake and Nicholson? I have noticed gradual, steady progress on that property. They appear to have basically redone everything. I think it will be in tip top shape by next Spring.

I was by the LD Farris Building the other day, as well. It's certainly looking rather nice, along with Bonne Belle.

I wonder what will replace the Hall House after it is demolished, or moved.

Last time I was near the former Cadillac by DeLorean lot, I noticed a small amount of dug up concrete. Maybe they are taking soil samples before building the new Aldi's. I hope Rysar Properties is not constructing the new Aldi's.

On another positive note, Donatos' expanded parking lot and drive through looks exceptional. My understanding is that they are having a raffle, with proceeds to benefit charity, for 300 free pizzas. I don't know if these will be freshly baked pizzas or pizzas coming out of someone's garage, but hey it's for a good cause. OK just kidding about the raffle.

Doug

Mr.Huntington,

don't worry, the new station will look good once it's finished. Add a 10 foot mural that was designed by my interactive media class last year and you'll love it.

100% guarantee or your money back

I didn't like the previous mural that has "200" in it, but different strokes for different folks.

If you have anything to do with the new mural, then odds are it's going to be great!

by the way don't worry about Dr. Estrop. Some day when you get a Pullitzer Prize, you are going to say Dr. Who?

That was too bad you didn't do the photographing of the garbage trucks. It didn't have to be like Karl Monday. You could have had some beautiful pictures of the Flintstone vehicles dumping trash into the big trucks, with perhaps a nice sunset in the background, etc. You know--some artists can make great art out of literal garbage!

Doug

I agree the Donato's parking lot and ATM look nice.

It is the house at Nicholson and Lake - the name of the owners house gets automatically replaced by homeowner which makes the comment kind of weird.

Thanks for the complement - and I agree Bonne Bell always looks nice.

I'm watching Harding and the Library too. Very exciting. I'll have to see the W117th Station. I'm glad they are including student's work - it makes it so much more meaningful.

You know--some artists can make great art out of literal garbage!

"to me, photography is an art of observation. It's about finding something interesting in an ordinary place... I've found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them"

if I knew who was quoted I'd tell you, but I don't know.

I'm excited for the library to be finished. We'll just have to wait and see for the rapid station..

the YMCA looks awesome- I can't wait for that!

Developers are starting to gain interest in Lakewood, hopefully we'll be a community and people from east south and west will flock in here like they do into crocker.. it would be great for the businesses here in Lakewood.

I hope these new buildings popping up and all the renovating pays off.

Dear Lynn,

Thanks for the positive suggestion - to look at all that is "looking good" in Lakewood.

I agree that the Y looks amazing.

Also, four new schools - think of that - FOUR new schools! They look fantastic. Next fall, all of the Lakewood middle schoolers will be going to two state-of-the-art buildings - what an exciting move.

Ellen Malonis

Has the stripper shop next to the new Sherwin Williams always been red?

Maybe they are taking soil samples before building the new Aldi's.

An Aldi's is going in next to that Burger King? Exactly what we need in that area. What can we do to attract more Dollar Stores, Check Cashing Places, and Plasma Centers?

Wouldn't a community vision/strategic plan help us understand what types business we want to attract and what stratagies, ordinances, incentives we need to develop in order to attract those businesses?

I understand that we can't completely control who comes to Lakewood but what is happening now is like deciding to remodel your home and just allowing contractors and developers to come in and do whatever they think will work. The goal will have been met - remodeling. And the house may have new paint, new bathrooms, new additions but without a vision and blueprints, the house is going to be crazy looking, may not be functional, and the market value will be gone.

Shawn-

As far as I know, the Mission clothing store is not a stripper shop, but thanks for the laugh. They do sell club clothes and a variety of very hip stuff. I'm not their target demographic, but I've seen a whole lot of cool stuff in their store. The folks who run the place are also very nice. My nearly 16 year-old niece thinks the place is da bomb.

Rick-

Aldi's and 5th/3rd Bank are going to go into the DeLorean spot on 117th.

Has the Rocky River Aldi's attracted a check cashing place or a plasma center? The Medina Aldi's?

Thanks for taking it as intended. I'm sure they sell to customers other than strippers. Must be some reason for the increased dress code. But hey, it's business serving a unique niche and best of luck to 'em.

They had the weirdest and most wonderful swim outfit that I have ever seen in their window this summer.

Their stuff is truly unique.

Now there is a lingerie store closer to Madison Village that has some pretty wild stuff in the windows as well.

But it's fun to see the "costumed" customers and propriators of the Mission.

I'm one of those people who find certain forms of self-expression to be great fun, and even as a thirty year old, was so enamoured of wild hair color (not available when I was a teen) that I went through a phase of moderated color wildness. The tiny bubblegum pink braid I had was just "what the doctor ordered."

However, I'm still way behind the times on piercings and tats.

Madison Ave is what it is and God bless 'em for it. In reference to Lakewood image and maintaining authenticity it would be great if that whole district could thrive and not get bought out ala Coventry. They seem to just be hanging onto the feel last I've seen. There is that fine line between success and character. Tough to have it co-exist.

What's the timeline on the Library, by the way. And while we're in that neighborhood, what is Maxxum in the old church across the street? Anyone seem the inside of that building yet? Church conversion could well be our next step in revitalization. Hate to say it but the Catholic Churches seem to be sitting on some largely properties that have to be struggling to keep the lights on based on the number of parishners that I've seen at mass. Wonder what the Bishop has to say about that idea.

What's the timeline on the Library, by the way

Well Shawn, as you can see, the work is progressing nicely! Steel erection continues, the concrete flooring is being poured and masonry is going up. The critical date at this juncture is having the building weather tight for the interior work to continue during the winter. At this point, looks like we're on target to have the roof on around Thanksgiving. There have been some weather related delays (nothing like having the excavation turned into a swimming pool), but we're still looking to completion of the NEW construction mid-May 2007.

Once completed, the library operations will transfer into the new facility and the renovation of the current building will commence. We are anticipating that the time line for completion of phase 2 is 10 months.

For some great photos of the progress check out:
http://www.lkwdpl.org/about/newbuilding/phojo.htm

I know everyone connected with the LPL, its staff, its Board, its Administration and most of all its patrons are excited to see the progress and anxious for the completion and we thank all of our patrons for their patience for any inconvenience. In the end, we'll all have a facility that will be a continuing source of pride for the city.

Jeff